Third domestic violence death of 2014

Amanda Cuda

Updated 11:56 pm, Monday, March 24, 2014

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Getting helpIf you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, you can call the 24-hour state domestic violence hot line at 888-774-2900. For those in Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull, the Center for Family Justice hot line is 203-284-9559. All services are free and confidential.

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The murder of a Bridgeport woman Saturday night was the state's third domestic-violence homicide this year, according to the state's domestic violence coalition. And even though such homicides have declined in Connecticut over the past decade, advocates say this latest case shows domestic violence is still a persistent and deadly problem here.

"Obviously, even one (homicide) is too many," said Karen Jarmoc, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which oversees the state's 18 domestic violence shelters.

Late Monday afternoon, police identified the victim of Saturday's homicide as 28-year-old Tinese Benson. Benson was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend, Alejandro Velez, 37, in an apartment at 525 Palisades Ave.

Velez appears to have tried committing suicide with drugs, police said. He was unresponsive when police arrived at the apartment and pill bottles were found at the scene. Velez was in critical condition at Bridgeport Hospital and has been charged with murder.

Jarmoc said the death is a sad reminder that domestic violence is still a major concern in the state.

"It's horrifying and it's frustrating because we know enough (about these kinds of deaths) to know that they're predictable and they're preventable," she said.

However, the number of homicides linked to domestic violence has declined over the past decade. For example, last year there were nine such killings, compared with 12 the year before. Jarmoc added that the average number of domestic violence homicides has declined over the past 10 years, from 15 a year to 14.

Three domestic violence homicides is consistent with what the coalition typically sees at this point in the year, Jarmoc said.

It was Bridgeport's first homicide of 2014 and "we hope it's the last one," said Debra Greenwood, chief executive officer and president of the Center for Family Justice, the domestic violence program serving Greater Bridgeport.

But state statistics suggest that is unlikely.

According to the coalition's 2013 Fatality Review Report, Bridgeport had 21 domestic violence homicides from 2000 to 2011 -- more than any other city or town in the state. The report also showed that there was a total 175 intimate-partner homicides over that time period, most of them committed by men against women.

Both Jarmoc and Greenwood said the key to preventing such tragedies is making sure that women know services are available. Both the state coalition and the Center for Family Justice have 24-hour hot lines that people can call if they feel they or someone they love is in an abusive relationship.

"Though if you feel your life is in danger, you should call 911 first," Greenwood said.

However, even if victims reach out to the police or a domestic violence shelter, there's still a chance that they'll return to their abusers. Greenwood said even if people seek help, they might not see it through to the end.

"The only thing we can do is strongly suggest that they stay in our care until we decide what the next step should be," she said.